Aside from the standard bombs and tinis, I haven’t found much creativity within the world of sake. While wandering around St. Marks this weekend, Read and I stumbled upon a sushi lounge with a drink menu dominated by something called Sake Chu Hi—a mixture of sake and flavored soda. Flavors ranged from the traditional lime to grapefruit and lychee. We decided on guava and passion fruit, which arrived in tall frosty glasses filled with ice. They were delicious, so I decided to do a little research.
In Japan, Chu-Hi is usually a canned beverage available in grocery stores and vending machines. Its alcohol content is similar to beer, and Chu-Hi is normally marketed as a beer replacement. Popular among young people in Japanese bars, Chu-Hi has made it to the states primarily as a designer drink.
I found a delicious, slightly more high-maintenance recipe for Chu-Hi. I tried it out on friends last night and it was a huge hit!
Spicy Ginger Chu-Hi
½ teaspoon freshly grated ginger
2 teaspoons sugar
2 ounces sake
½ ounce raspberry flavored rum
4 ounces guava juice
1 ounce lime juice
With a mortar and pestle muddle together the ginger and sugar. Add the mixture to a cocktail shaker filled with ice along with the sake, raspberry flavored rum, guava and lime juices.
Strain and pour into a martini glass and garnish with a slice of ginger!
Fantastic! The amazing Cecily does it again!
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